News
Speaker of Parliament Calls for Collective Action to End Corruption.
In a compelling keynote address at the Governance and Anti-Corruption Summit organized by the Bright Future Alliance, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin emphasized the urgent need for Ghana to break the pervasive chains of corruption.
Highlighting the destructive impact of corruption on national development, he noted that millions of cedis are lost daily to illicit activities, compromising essential public services and undermining democratic institutions.
Bagbin stressed that corruption disproportionately affects the poor and widens inequality, thereby stalling efforts towards poverty alleviation and economic growth.
The Speaker pointed out that Ghana is losing billions of dollars annually due to corruption, tax evasion, and illicit financial flows.
Citing reports such as the Justice Anim Report of 1970 and recent data from the World Bank and Auditor-General, he illustrated the significant resource leakages that hinder the country’s progress.
He referenced the U$12 million paid for the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam when no work had been completed, symbolizing how corruption robs the nation of opportunities to improve living conditions and reduce poverty.
Speaket Bagbin underscored the importance of civic engagement and institutional reforms, noting Parliament’s efforts to strengthen oversight through various committees and increased transparency initiatives.
He highlighted new measures like the establishment of Departments of Public Engagement and Citizen’s Bureau, designed to amplify citizen participation and ensure government accountability.
However, he emphasized that building a culture of integrity must start from individual homes, schools, and communities, advocating for values such as honesty and ethical leadership to be ingrained from a young age.
Concluding with a call to action, the Speaker urged Ghanaian youth to become active participants in the anti-corruption fight.
He announced the recent inauguration of the National Integrity Award Scheme aimed at rewarding integrity and promoting ethical behavior across society.
Bagbin stressed that empowering the next generation is a shared responsibility and emphasized that young people are already leaders today.
He called on all stakeholders to work collectively through reforms, civic vigilance, and education to create a Ghana free of corruption, ensuring a brighter, more equitable future for generations to come.
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Kingdom of Belgium as part of efforts to restore the country’s economic stability after the financial crisis that hit the nation in 2022 and 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, today disclosed that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana experienced a very difficult period during the crisis, which forced the government at the time to declare a debt default.
However, he indicated that the country is now recovering and witnessing a significant economic turnaround.
According to him, stronger systems are also being put in place to ensure that Ghana does not return to such a situation again.
Dr Forson noted that the agreement with Belgium is the eighth deal Ghana has concluded with countries under the Official Creditor Committee as part of its external debt restructuring programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its support and partnership with Ghana during the process.
The Finance Minister thanked Carole van Eyll, Ambassador of Belgium to Ghana, for her role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to restructure its external debts and stabilise the economy following the crisis.
By: Jacob Aggrey
